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Under the influence of such a spirit, more may be done in a few days or weeks, than can otherwise be done in many years. The most useful of all lives extended only to thirty-three years; and it was spent, not in the halls of legislation, or in the palaces of the great, but in going about doing good among the common people.

"What Christian does not know, that his moral power to do good depends far more on his heart being kept in a right state, than upon any earthly acquisitions? Where the love of God is wanting, or operates only in a small degree, difficulties are magnified into impossibilities; a lion is in the way of useful exertion: or if we be induced to engage in something of the kind, it is likely to fail in our hands for want of zeal and resolution. No Christian can hope to be useful who does not live near to God, and walk daily with him, as Enoch did; and every Christian who does this, however humble his talents, or his station in life, cannot fail to be useful. His spirit, his conversation, his example, diffuse a holy, quickening influence all around him; and his efforts, being made with prayer and humble reliance on God, are crowned with his blessing, and result in great good. A few such Christians in a church are like leaven, leavening the whole lump. They encourage the heart and stay the hands of their minister. They rouse and they quicken their fellow Christians to duty. They warn and they guide perishing sinners into the way of salvation. They have power with God, and prevail in their prayers and thus, be their talents and their outward circumstances what they may, they exert a blessed influence, not only upon all around them, but all over the world, and upon generations yet to come."

2. The writer proceeds to shew, "there is no inconsistency between diligence in business and the cultivation of a spirit of affectionate, fruitful piety. Mr. Smith never grew in grace more rapidly, or shone brighter as a Christian, than during the last six or seven years of his life, when he had the greatest amount of business on his hands.

"It is altogether a mistake, then, and a wicked impeachment of Providence, when professing Christians say that attention to business tends to make them cold and formal in religion. What merchant was ever more deeply engaged in business than the late John Thornton, of London? And yet he was as eminent for the tenderness and fervour of his piety, as for the extent and success of his business. What physician was ever engaged in a more laborious and successful practice than Dr. Boerhaave of the last century, and Dr. Good of the present? But in the midst of their arduous and ever-pressing duties, they maintained a spirit of lively, fruitful piety; and were as eminent for their faith and prayer, as they were for their talents and success in practice. Few scholars have exceeded Sir William Jones in the extent and variety of his learning. Yet, Sir William Jones was a humble and devoted Christian, and gratefully laid all his attainments at the foot of the cross. Sir Matthew Hale is acknowledged to have been the ablest lawyer and the most learned judge of his day; and where shall we look for a finer example of simple-hearted, affectionate piety, or of the strict conscientious discharge of all the duties of a religious life? And, not to mention other cases, look at William Wilberforce, engaged during a long life in the most arduous duties as a member of parliament, a civilian and statesman of high character; and yet, in the midst of all his labours, humbly walking with God, and showing himself, to the last, a meek, devoted disciple of Jesus."

Most cordially do we agree with our writer in what he says on Christian men of business making haste to be rich for the Lord and his work:

"In regard to pursuing business with the view of getting property to be used for the Lord, a volume ought to be written on this subject. Christian men of business do by no means feel its importance as they ought. At a time like this, when funds are so much needed to send the Gospel through the world, some men might surely devote themselves to business for the sole purpose of acquiring

means to carry forward the benevolent operations of the day. There are a few who now act on this principle. The number ought to be greatly increased. There ought to be missionary tradesmen and merchants, just as much as missionary schoolmasters and preachers—men prosecuting business for the great purpose of getting to give into the treasury of the Lord, Nor can there be a doubt that all who should act on this principle, would lay up both for themselves and their families not only a good, but the best foundation against the time of need."

This treasure of a book concludes with a brief notice of another kindred spirit. A young merchant of the name of Cobb, at the age of 23, drew up and signed the following remarkable document :—

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increased beyond fifty thousand dollars, he at once devoted the surplus, seven thousand five hundred dollars, as a foundation for a Professorship in the Newton Theological Institution. He held his property as really belonging to the cause of God. Here is the secret of that wonderful liberality which cheered so many hearts, and gave vigour to so many institutions and plans of benevolence. It sprung from steady religious principle. It was a fruit of the Holy Spirit. He always felt that God had bestowed on him a rich blessing, in enabling him thus to serve his cause. On his death-bed he said to a friend, in allusion to the resolutions quoted above,

By the grace of God-nothing elseby the grace of God, I have been enabled, under the influence of those resolutions, to give away more than forty thousand dollars (£8,333). How good the Lord has been to me!'

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His last sickness and death were peaceful, yea, triumphant. 'It is a glorious thing,' said he, to die. I have been active and busy in the world -I have enjoyed as much as any one -God has prospered me-I have every thing to bind me here--I am happy in my family- I have property enough-but how small and mean does this world appear when we are on a sick-bed! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ, the blood of Christ-NONE but Christ. Oh, how thankful I feel, that God has provided a way that I, sinful as I am, may look forward with joy to another world, through his dear Son! I can say with brother Lincoln, 'Should I live to the age of Methuselah, I don't think I should ever find a better time to die.'

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Entelligence.

TRACTARIANISM.

Ir is deeply painful to contemplate a case like Mr. Oakeley's, whatever may be the issue of the pending trial. There is no conclusive proof indeed that legal proceedings have been instituted, and we cannot but think that it would only have evinced a becoming consideration for the wounded feelings of the faithful members of the Church, if the Bishop of London had condescended ere this to make known to the Church that he is doing all for her honour which he can do. The metropolis is the head of the grand body of the nation. There is not a limb or a member which does not sympathize with the head. In all matters-civil, ecclesiastical, political, and otherwise-we of the pro. vinces, turn with constant anxiety, to head-quarters; we rejoice in their prosperity, we mourn over their evils: and we think it only right that there should be a reciprocity of sympathy. The case of Margaretstreet Chapel, therefore, is not that merely of Exeter or York; it is a sort of common property to the Church; and symptoms of disease in the head excite a degree of alarm beyond the manifestation even of the same degree of mischief in a remote and inferior member. Mr. Oakeley's conduct has been manifestly so boldly heterodox, that, in our humble opinion, weeks should not have elapsed before the Church generally is apprized, on an undoubted authority, that the Diocesan is taking prompt and vigorous measures to arrest it. But we have said, that it is deeply painful to contemplate such a case as that of Mr. Oakeley; not merely because of his own fall and disgrace, and loss to usefulness in his day and generation; but because we cannot but think, that if his Diocesan had acted promptly and decisively, at the outset, the mischief might have failed to come to its maturity. It is impossible for us to say what the Bishop

of London has done and said to Mr. Oakeley in private, we can only judge upon our own data as to the case. But what was there to prevent the Bishop from knowing the changes that have gradually crept into Margaret-street Chapel; and, as they sprang up one after another, from at once declaring to Mr. O., that he would not allow them, but that all must revert to its original condition ? Had the Bishop no power to command the restoration of the old read. ing desk? to forbid the turning away from the people in reading the prayers? Could he not in the early days of professed submission to episcopal authority have easily prevented the introduction of the huge Cross over the table, and thus have nipped in the bud, the use of that Cross for devotional purposes, which we ourselves have seen, and of which we took care that the Bishop should know, and which, we wonder not to find, from a Clergyman, the other day, who attended the service, has led to the introduction of "The Garden of the Soul" into the pews. He took one up where he was sitting, emblazoned with a Cross on the back, like the Prayer-book near it. No wonder that individuals have been known to stray into that chapel and hasten out again, expressing their conviction that they must have got by mistake into a popish Mass House. And now a respectable and once useful Clergyman has come to the crisis of his non-protestantism, and his attached and devout congregation have advanced, under his auspices, through a quiet and undisturbed pe riod of years, to the very threshold of Rome; and who can say where the evil will stop! The Bishop has incurred a fearful responsibility by his allowance of evil that he might have arrested; and to his dying hour it may well sadden his feelings that he should have forborne to set his

face like a flint against error, and to make an easy conquest of a foe in infancy, rather than wait till the giant had grown beyond his grasp.

Would that our Bishops were more alive to the pressing duty of giving full proof of their ministry as Watchmen. If there be one designation which attaches more than another to the episcopal order in the Church, it is that of Watchmen. And a watchman's duty is to be on the look out for the enemy; to be detecting his insidious intrigues, and comprehending the exact character of his attack. It is the watchman's duty to sound the alarm, and blow the trumpet; to forewarn the garrison; and, surely, not to postpone his efforts till the enemy is absolutely within the walls, and has improved delay for the easy accomplishment of his victory. Surely it is high time for the Bishops to take more vigorous and comprehensive measures against the growing evil than have yet been adopted. Even in the dioceses, where the Bishops are most opposed to it, Tractarianism is strongly at work and without interference. It is not enough that a Bishop's sentiments should triennially come forth in the advocacy of truth, (and that, too often, alas! with the counteraction of unmeasured laudations of the very men whose errors are denounced,) it is the practical and systematic interference of the Bishops that is required. Why should it be, (and especially with the sanction of the Primate's letter,) that a case should exist, in any one of our dioceses, in which the newly adopted surplice in the pulpit should be continued, or the new-fangled position of the reading desk, or the prayer for Church militant after the Sermon, or the peculiar intonation of reading the services of the Church? What is there to prevent a Bishop from making the Archdeacons and the Rural Deans of his diocese what they are said to be-his eyes; and through them ascertaining what is really going on in the churches, and then acting accordingly. something more than a periodical denouncement of error and a confession of truth; we need an active,

We need

practical system to suppress the varied workings of the one, and to encourage the other.

Oh! that the great Head of the Church may vouchsafe abundantly to our Bishops the healthful spirit of his grace, and pour upon them the continual dew of his blessing; that they may rise to the level of the Church's need at this most eventful crisis, and stand boldly forward, as our standard-bearers, to assert the honour and the rights of our heavenly King, and to resist the pretensions of Antichrist-the great adversary of God and man-in whatever character he may present himself.

It needs not much sagacity to discover that we are thrown into most perilous times. No one can fail to be struck with the singular coincidence of the unparalleled efforts of Popery without and Popery within the Church. If our standard-bearers faint, or fail to unfurl their colours, what shall we do! Oh! that the Apostolic spirit may revive and advance amongst us; that the holy zeal, and jealousy, and revenge of the great Apostle Paul may manifest themselves against the approach of all error derogatory to Christ's glory, and subversive of the holy interests of His Church on earth!

TRACTARIAN ZEAL.

DR. HENDERSON, in his recent visit to the valley of Piedmont, entered the college of St. Margaritta. He says:- "The library, which has been chiefly supplied with books from England, contains-Simeon's Helps, Scott's Commentary, Doddridge's Expositor, &c., and, to my utter astonishment, several volumes of the TRACTS FOR THE TIMES' !!!

"The indefatigable zeal of the Tractarians in giving currency to their opinions in our own country and its dependencies is well known; but who could have imagined that they would have crossed the Alps for the purpose of instilling them into minds of the Vaudois, and thereby effecting what the church of Rome has laboured in vain for centuries to accomplish the conversion of that

simple-minded but stedfast community from the principles which have been their glory from time immemorial? I was afterwards informed that the English clergyman by whom they were presented, and who is known as an author in connexion with the Oxford controversy, spent his time almost exclusively with the monks in the convent, instead of giving his company to the Vaudois pastor, with whom he lodged."

"THE man that is wise-he that is conducted by the Spirit of Godknows better in what Christ's kingdom does consist, than to throw away his time, and interest, and peace and safety, for what? For religion? No. For the body of religion? Not so much. For the garment of the body of religion? No, not for so much; but for the fringes of the garment of the body of religion."Jeremy Taylor.

VENTRY AND DINGLE.

POPERY.

Bray, Co. Wicklow, Feb. 18. MY DEAR-Since I wrote to you, things have gone on in one respect but sadly, as the troubles of our poor converts increase daily; but, thank God, we can say, as "their sufferings abound, so their consolations abound also;" and we feel confident the result will be glorious. It may interest you to read the enclosed, which gives but a faint view of the persecutions that rage, not only in the six parishes near Ventry and Dingle, but in every spot where our gracious God has blessed the work of reformation; and everywhere his grace is sufficient," his " strength made perfect in weakness." Pray much for us. The struggle is great, but little doubt remains that much

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Every one is cursed who buys from or sells to a Convert; and even their nearest and dearest friends are not allowed to speak to them, or even to look at the same side of the road when they meet them. Yet the people still have a kindly feeling towards them if the priests would not prohibit them. A poor woman went into P. Connor's house on Christmas Eve, and left him a nice bowl of butter, making signs that it was a present, and that she was sorry not to be allowed to speak to him. We cannot even buy a pennyworth of salt from those to whom we have for years been kind. Our weavers cannot get thread to buy, or our shoemakers leather, so that all hands are idle.

"The priests have so many emissaries on the look-out, that even at the markets, if the converts purchase anything, they are watched, and forced to return it. The priests returned thanks publicly at the altar for Mr. Thompson's death, and pray that the heads of the Reformation may soon follow. Some one has taken the hint, as Lord Ventry received a letter signed 'A good aim,' swearing by the Eternal God, that two balls should be sent through his body if he did not send away Mr. Gayer, and put down the work.' On Sunday I received a letter, warning me to leave the country at once, or my life would be the sacrifice; but I thank God 'none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.' The only notice I took of it is, by placard

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